Jele keeps the Bucs party happy

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Happy Jele brought delight to Bucs fan when he netted the winning goal on Saturday.

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Harrismith – After scoring the winning goal in Orlando Pirates’ 1-0 victory over AC Leopards in the Caf Confederations Cup match in Dolisie, Congo, on Saturday, Bucs defender Happy Jele was relieved to secure the win.

The Buccaneers had little in the way of genuine goal-scoring opportunities during the 90 minutes, but demonstrated clinical finishing upfront as they converted their only real chance in the clash as Jele buried a shot inside the area just inside the hour mark in front of a capacity crowd.

“It’s always great scoring but as a defender I am equally delighted to have been able to help the team record a clean sheet in a tough game like that one,” said Jele after the match.

“I am very happy to have contributed to the team’s win today. This victory was very important to us because like in the 2013 Champions League, we understand how important it is to win the opening game.”

It was the first-ever victory for Pirates over Leopards, and simply avoiding a loss would have been a huge result away from home.

“When it comes to playing in any of the CAF matches we understand the importance of winning over entertaining. It isn’t easy playing away from home.”

The match at the Stade Dennis Sassou Nguesso on a bumpy playing surface was well-attended, and the crowd were treated to a dominant performance by Leopards as the hosts had the better of the chances in the first period, but the goal in the second half proved to be the difference between the sides.

“There are many trying conditions we are faced with and for that reason we simplify things and focus on getting the job done. Overall, we are happy with the result. We are going back home with what we came here to get, and that is three points.” – ANA



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Paraguay down Brazil on penalties

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Derlis Gonzalez slotted two penalties to help Paraguay beat Brazil 4-3 on Saturday.

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aConcepcion, Chile – Derlis Gonzalez slotted two penalties, one in regular time and again in the shootout, to help Paraguay beat Brazil 4-3 after a 1-1 draw on Saturday that advanced them to a Copa America semi-final against Argentina.

It was the second tournament in succession that Paraguay have beaten Brazil on penalties at the quarter-final stage after 2011 when they went on the reach the final.

The face Argentina on Tuesday for the second time in the tournament, having fought back from two goals down for a 2-2 draw in the teams' opening group match.

Gonzalez netted the decisive Paraguayan penalty with the fifth spot kick having scored his team's equaliser during normal time.

Robinho started and finished a fine move in the 15th minute to put Brazil ahead before Gonzalez equalised with 20 minutes to go when he converted a penalty after a hand ball by Thiago Silva.

“Unfortunately, our game dropped in the second half,” said Robinho. “We had chances to kill the game off.

“Paraguay with all respect aren't one of the best sides. We didn't kill the game and unfortunately we lost a goal with a silly mistake and we lost.”

Brazil, who had won 12 of their previous 13 matches since Dunga took charge after last year's World Cup, had more possession in the first half and weaved some good attacks but Paraguay were quick and dangerous on the break.

Paraguay became more adventurous in the second half and winger Edgar Benitez soon won a free kick when he was brought down by Dani Alves, though goalkeeper Jefferson parried the ball away from Roque Santa Cruz's attempt.

With an hour gone, Jefferson made a diving reflex save from centre back Paulo Da Silva's header and later made a similar save from Gonzalez in a counter-attack.

Paraguay captain Justo Villar then had to make a scrambling save from a Philippe Coutinho shot as Brazil piled on late pressure.

In the shootout, the writing was on the wall for Brazil from their second penalty which was put wide by Everton Ribeiro and another substitute, Douglas, missed their fourth to give Paraguay two penalties to settle the outcome.

Santa Cruz then skied his penalty, Philippe Coutinho gave Brazil hope by netting his but Gonzalez made no mistake.

Hosts Chile meet Peru in Monday's other semi-final. – Reuters



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Turkish delight not sweet enough

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LIfe is too cushy for footballers in SA to give up for R5m-a-year deals overseas.

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There’s a story doing the rounds about a Kaizer Chiefs player who has just turned down a R5 million-a-year deal in Turkey because he is quite happy to remain big in Jozi, earning about half that amount, without the added pressure.

He’s not the first local player to scoff at the lure of the euro or the British pound and, sadly, he won’t be the last. Life is good in Mzansi.

Remember how many of the class of 2010 were touted to be on the verge of signing deals to go overseas? Most are still here, because the life of an average to decent footballer in South Africa has become cushy, especially at one of the big three clubs. Let us be clear; if our football clubs were dominating Africa and regularly reaching the latter stages of the Champions League, then you could understand why players would want to stay local and lekker.

And, if South African clubs were dominating the continent, the domino effect would be a far stronger national team. The sad truth, of course, is that Bafana continue to wallow somewhere between Average Lane and Eishville, despite being the focal point of the richest league on the continent.

We are the England of Africa, flush with money, but with no football fortune. With every passing year, South African clubs – gallant Orlando Pirates aside – seem to treat Africa with more disdain, an inconvenience that gets in the way of another free weekend eKasi or at the mall.

The likes of new Chiefs coach Steve Komphela, and other Amakhosi alumni like Lucas Radebe, Shoes Moshoeu and Mark Williams would happily have given a left nut to leave these shores with an open return ticket, desperate to make it big abroad, to come back richer, but also as infinitely wiser footballers to serve the national team. Those days are gone now. The hunger and desperation have been eliminated from the current generation, whose mediocrity is rewarded handsomely, even as our football stock continues to fall on the continent, never mind the football world.

And yet, South African football maintains a bizarre arrogance, fuelled by the fool’s gold lavished on them by TV money. That is why a player can turn down a life-changing fortune abroad, because he knows that along with those extra riches comes an inconvenient level of expectation from a far harsher audience.

One’s pockets may be deeper in Europe, but the stage is also bigger, the lights that much brighter. Entire cities expect. A Soweto derby is forgotten in a matter of days, but a Galatasaray-Besiktas war swirls in the air for months.

The intensity is the same across major cities all over Europe. These things matter, deeply. It’s no wonder players like Moshoeu and Williams could deliver on the ultimate stage for Bafana, because they had been in wars every week for their clubs, desperate to show their worth and keep their place in the team.

Overseas, away from crowds who cheer for a flick of the heel instead of a killer pass, there is pressure to deliver more than the once-a-month display that the regular fan in Soweto is happy with, and that kind of responsibility seems too much for many of our current crop.

We need to go back to celebrating the departure of our best talents to bigger stages. But what hope do we have, when a young man turns a blind eye not just to a fortune, but the chance to be much more rounded as a player and a human being?

Cristiano Ronaldo earns millions every week, but he is seen in his home town only a few days a year.

Lionel Messi, the Argentinian assassin, is a Spanish citizen now, as he’s lived in Barcelona that long.



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United raised bid for Ramos

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Man United have made a second bid for Sergio Ramos, as Madrid accept for the first time that they may lose him.

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London - Manchester United have made a second bid for Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, upping their offer to £35.4m as the Spanish club accept for the first time that they may lose him.

United's opening bid of £32m was quickly rejected by Madrid on Tuesday but with no sign of a breakthrough in relations between the defender and Real club president Florentino Perez, they seem to be attempting to maintain the bidding pace. That marginal increase on the first offer seems unlikely to trigger a breakthrough for United - but it may form the basis for talks in which the Old Trafford goalkeeper David de Gea's likely move to Madrid is part of the picture.

The new offer brings United nowhere near the €100m (£71m) Real say they want for Ramos. Sources close to the player were meanwhile suggesting that United were playing their own game of hardball by insisting they want £32.6m for De Gea. The high valuations of both players appear to be part of the negotiating process and nothing more.

The most significant aspect of the developing saga from the Madrid end yesterday was that the Spanish club have still not declared that they will not sell the 29-year-old Ramos.

Ramos and Perez have had a brief telephone conversation in which the player repeated his request that offers for him be considered. Perez was reported to have said words to the effect of: “Go on holiday and we'll talk about it when you get back.” The player is now on holiday in the United States.

There may also be developments next week in United's interest in Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich and Morgan Schneiderlin of Southampton. Schweinsteiger appears to be United's preferred option but if he opts not to be reunited with Louis van Gaal, who managed him at Bayern, Schneiderlin would be seen as another strong addition to the midfield.

The Independent



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Tevez to join Boca Juniors from Juventus

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Argentina forward Carlos Tevez is to rejoin Boca Juniors, where he began his career, from Juventus.

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Buenos Aires - Argentina forward Carlos Tevez is to re-join Boca Juniors, where he began his career, from Juventus, the Buenos Aires club said.

“It's a happy and very satisfying day,” said club president Daniel Angelici in a statement.

“The return of Carlos Tevez, at an extraordinary moment in his career, is fantastic news for all the members and fans of Boca, and also for Argentine football.”

Tevez, 31, spent three years at Boca from 2001 and 2004, and went on to play for Corinthians, West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus, where he has spent the last two seasons.

He scored 20 league goals last season as he helped Juventus win their fourth successive Serie A title.

Angelici said Juventus and Boca had agreed terms and would finalise the transfer “in the next few hours.”

Reuters



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United insist on £35m fee for De Gea

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Manchester United will demand a world record fee for a goalkeeper if Real Madrid are to lure away David de Gea.

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London - Manchester United will demand a world record fee for a goalkeeper if Real Madrid are to lure away David de Gea.

Old Trafford officials are unconcerned by the fact the 24-year-old Spaniard has only a year left on his deal and could leave for nothing next summer.

United believe the value of keeping De Gea for another 12 months far outweighs any bid below the world record £32.6million Juventus paid Parma for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001.

They are looking for about £35m before they would even entertain the idea of allowing the former Atletico Madrid man to leave the club.

De Gea was signed by United for £17.8m in 2011, but Real will go in with a first offer as low as £13m. A United source said: ‘The fees mentioned are a long way short. David is a world-class keeper who played a huge role in ensuring we qualified for the Champions League last season. That in itself was worth around £50m to the club.’

In another twist Real fear they are losing control of the Sergio Ramos transfer row after turning down a £35m bid from United.

It is understood that Real president Florentino Perez called Ramos to reassure him that his contract dispute will be sorted soon. But Madrid are concerned that the player has made up his mind to leave and will try to put United off by slapping a £65m price tag on Ramos - who could still be using the situation to force a better deal out of his club. United are keen to keep the Ramos discussions separate to any approach from Real for De Gea.

Daily Mail



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Abramovich smooths the way for Cech

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Cech's remarkable time at Chelsea explains why the club has generously allowed him his preferred, if unlikely, move.

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London - Petr Cech was on Friday night on the brink of ending his 11-year association with Chelsea, where he won 13 major trophies. The goalkeeper underwent a medical at Arsenal on Friday ahead of an £11million move which, when confirmed, will be one of the most significant of the summer. Big players do not often move between big English clubs and yet that is what Cech will do this weekend.

Even as Chelsea's second-choice goalkeeper, he played 16 games last season, and his departure will surely diminish the champions. His arrival at Arsenal can only improve their chances of challenging for their first league title since Cech signed for Chelsea 11 years ago.

Cech's remarkably successful time at Chelsea explains why the club has generously allowed him his preferred, if unlikely, move. Chelsea do not willingly sell their best players to clubs who can hurt them but for Cech an exception has been made. It says everything about the debt of gratitude felt to the 33-year-old by the club or, to be more precise, its owner Roman Abramovich.

It has been clear for some time that the decision to sell Cech comes from the very top of the club, even above the manager Jose Mourinho. Discussing Cech's future at a press conference early last month, Mourinho publicly revealed that he might be powerless to keep him at Stamford Bridge. Explaining why, in this instance, he would not get his way, he said: “One thing is Jose Mourinho and another is Mr Abramovich, and another thing is the board, because the board is a little bit of me and a little bit of other people.

“If it was [up to] me, if it was my decision, the decision is Petr to stay. That is it. It would be my decision for Petr to stay. After that, to go but not in England. The option I don't want is for him to go to an English club.”

Yet that is precisely what will happen and it is a reminder, if one were needed, that even the most famous manager in the world still answers to someone else. Mourinho said at the time that he would “accept” whatever the club decided and that is now what he will have to do.

If Abramovich allowing Cech to join Arsenal is the loyal, emotional decision, then Mourinho's position is the rational one. After Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy on 24 May, Mourinho said that they had “the two best goalkeepers in the Premier League”. It may just have been part of a campaign of flattery to keep Cech at Stamford Bridge, but it was not an absurd exaggeration.

Even after losing his place in the first team to Thibaut Courtois last season, Cech was impressive whenever called upon, producing important performances in the Premier League against Arsenal, Everton and Leicester City, making saves which helped Chelsea win the title. Mourinho said at the end of the season: “I am not sure, if Petr was not here in those seven matches, if we could be champions.”

There is no doubt that Cech will seriously improve Arsenal, giving them more experience, quality and security in goal than they have had at any time since David Seaman left 12 years ago. Moreover, Cech is likely to give Arsenal years of good service.

Whether he will make up the difference in the Premier League table between Arsenal and last season's champions Chelsea - a 12-point gap - is unlikely. Arsenal need upgrades elsewhere, too. But he will definitely make that gap smaller.

The Independent



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Uruguay complain over Jara-Cavani incident

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Uruguay's FA will raise a formal complaint against Chile’s Gonzalo Jara for sticking his finger up Edinson Cavani bum.

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Santiago - Uruguay's FA will raise a formal complaint against Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara for provoking striker Edinson Cavani by sticking his finger up his backside during the hosts' 1-0 Copa America quarter-final win.

The complaint to the South American Football Confederation means CONMEBOL's disciplinary committee will now deal with the incident.

Uruguay's FA (AUF) said in a statement on Friday: “The AUF's executive committee decided to open the defence of the player Edinson Cavani. It denounced to CONMEBOL's disciplinary body the actions of the player Gonzalo Jara.”

With Wednesday's match in Santiago balanced at 0-0 after an hour, Jara gave striker Cavani a friendly tap and when he did not respond the 29-year-old Mainz 05 defender poked his finger up the Uruguayan's backside.

Cavani reacted by pushing Jara away gently but the Chilean fell to the ground as if he had been punched.

The incident brought Cavani his second yellow card of the game and Chile went on to score the winner with eight minutes left.

AUF Executive Secretary Alejandro Balbi told Reuters their complaint would be backed by “photographic images and video footage that we all know about and give proof of (Jara's provocation).”

Balbi also said that on Monday they would present their case to have the red cards issued to Cavani and Jorge Fucile overturned.

They would also include the fact that the referee had put in his match report that coach Oscar Tabarez had insulted him, a charge the Uruguay coach denies.

Defender Fucile was shown the red card near the end of the match for what looked a clean challenge on Alexis Sanchez.

After Fucile's exit, the match was halted for several minutes as Uruguay's players surrounded the referee, and officials and players from both sides scuffled on the field.

Tabarez joined in the protest but later denied having insulted Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci.

Uruguayan Adrian Leiza, one of the five members of the CONMEBOL disciplinary committee, said he and another Chilean member would leave the decision about the complaint to the other three members.

Chile's semi-final against Peru is scheduled for Monday.

Uruguay fans and media were outraged about the incident, with former captain Diego Lugano threatening to take the matter up with Jara when the sides meet again in 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

“We're going to have to have a word with that lad 'Jarita' (little Jara) when our paths cross,” the centre back said via Twitter.

Jara's team mates came to his defence and accused Uruguay of sour grapes.

“The Uruguayans are shameless,” David Pizarro said at a news conference on Friday.

“It is difficult for them to accept their defeat. It's a shame that they don't analyse the way Chile played the other night.

“We had 80 percent of possession. Two styles went head to head, and in my view, once more, good football won out - skill over the physical game.”

Reuters



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Cech to undergo medical with Arsenal

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Chelsea's Petr Cech will undergo a medical with Arsenal, after the clubs agreed a fee for the keeper, a UK paper reported.

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London - Chelsea's Petr Cech will undergo a medical with Arsenal on Friday, according to British media reports, after the clubs agreed a fee for the 33-year-old goalkeeper.

The BBC said Cech, who was displaced as Chelsea's first-choice keeper by Belgium's Thibaut Courtois last season, had agreed personal terms with Arsenal and would become their first close-season signing.

Cech, who joined Chelsea in 2004 from French club Stade Rennais, played 16 times for Jose Mourinho's side last season.

The goalkeeper position has been an issue for Arsenal over recent years with Wojciech Szczesny and David Ospina sharing the role last season.

Reuters



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City snap up £2m Turkey wonderkid

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Turkey’s teenage sensation Enes Unal will fly into England this weekend to seal a £2m move to Manchester City.

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London - Turkey’s teenage sensation Enes Unal will fly into England this weekend to seal a £2million move to Manchester City.

City have beaten off interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal to sign the 18-year-old Bursaspor striker.

The Turkish club’s president, Recep Bolukbasi, confirmed the deal on Thursday.

Unal scored a staggering 182 goals in 110 games for Bursaspor’s youth team before becoming the youngest player to strike in the Turkish league and be capped by his country.

He will have a medical before completing a transfer that is worth an initial £500 000 to Bursaspor, building to £2m, and includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause.

Providing he receives a work permit, Unal will start with City’s Under 21 squad and is likely to be the club’s only new striker this summer.

City are focused on strengthening in midfield and the wide areas, with Raheem Sterling, Paul Pogba and Kevin De Bruyne their top targets.

Daily Mail



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Gerrard reveals moment he knew Liverpool career was over

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LONDON: Steven Gerrard knew it was time to leave Liverpool when he was omitted from the starting lineup for their Champions League group match at Real Madrid last November.

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LONDON: Steven Gerrard knew it was time to leave Liverpool when he was omitted from the starting lineup for their Champions League group match at Real Madrid last November.

The 35-year-old former England captain left Anfield in May after more than 17 years and 700 matches with the Premier League club and has signed for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy.

He said in an interview to be broadcast on Wednesday that he was “devastated” when manager Brendan Rodgers put him on the bench in Madrid and realised his days at the club were numbered.

“When I was told I wasn't playing, for the sake of the team and the squad and my relationship with Brendan, I took it and accepted it,” Gerrard tells his former England team mate Rio Ferdinand in the interview, to be televised by BT Sport.

But the ex-Liverpool skipper said that was the moment he realised his long career at the club was coming to an end.

“I sat on the bench devastated because I wanted to play. It sort of pushed me into making a decision to move on and try something different,” he explained.

Gerrard eventually came on in the 69th minute of the match, which Liverpool lost 1-0, and although he played 41 times last season, he was no longer the automatic first-choice he had been for most of his 17 years at Anfield.

He is now about to start the next phase of his career with the California-based LA Galaxy and can be seen on promotional posters dotted around the city under the banner 'Greatness'.

Liverpool, who finished second in the Premier League in 2014, had a poor season by comparison last term finishing sixth.

He also said the slip he made that effectively cost Liverpool the title in 2014 “will hurt me till the day I die.”

That happened in April 2014 when they lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea after Gerrard's slip on the turf allowed Demba Ba to score the opening goal.

Liverpool never recovered from that and Manchester City snatched the title from their grasp.

“The slip happened at a bad time, it was cruel for me personally. There's not a day goes by when I don't think, “What if that didn't happen?” Gerrard said

“I've got memories, good memories, that will live with me forever. But that one moment will hurt me until the day I go.

“It's because if I had got that title, I'd have achieved every dream with Liverpool. And, as a man, that hurts.” – Reuters



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United upbeat on Ramos despite failure

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Man United have been encouraged by Sergio Ramos agreeing to their request to make his desire to leave Madrid public.

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London - Manchester United have been encouraged by Sergio Ramos agreeing to their request to make his desire to leave Real Madrid public, despite an opening £32m bid for the defender being rejected out of hand on Thurday.

It is thought that United wanted Ramos to be open about his request for rival clubs' bids for him, in order to protect the Premier League club against accusations that they have been used by the 29-year-old as a device to get a new contract at Real. The defender has not gone public himself - despite suggestions he might issue a statement - but his interest in United has been made known, at his own request.

Privately, United will know that such developments offer no guarantees. The boot was on the other foot when Wayne Rooney issued a statement saying he would not sign a new United contract in 2010 - and let it be known that he was unhappy in 2013. But he signed new deals on both occasions and stayed.

The Old Trafford club would probably feel greater security if Ramos were to go public himself. There is a genuine feeling at United that the club are not being played by the Madrid defender, though, and a sense of enthusiasm among supporters that the club are opening the bidding for a Real player this time - rather than waiting for the Spaniards to arrive and hand-pick their prize assets, as they did Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.

As of last night, no bid had been received by United for goalkeeper David De Gea from Real. Ramos is thought to be anxious for progress in the next two weeks - to prevent him being dragged into the Spanish club's long-haul pre-season tour with his future still unclear.

If the situation remains unresolved, Ramos could find himself flying to Australia on 11 July - facing Roma and Manchester City that month - then heading on to China where Madrid play a further two games, against Internazionale in Guangzhou and Milan in Shanghai.

It is the Spanish side's first visit to China for four years and the last thing president Florentino Perez will want in the series of choreographed media appearances there is a disgruntled Ramos in the frame - and all of the attendant negative publicity. Neither does new coach Rafael Benitez want his first weeks in charge to be consumed by a media storm around Ramos.

Reports in the AS newspaper, which is close to the Ramos camp, said United had offered the defender a salary of €55m net (£39m) over five years, which could see the Spain centre-half finish his career playing at Old Trafford.

The nature of the offer would see Ramos earn £8.5m in his first season in England. A sliding scale would lead his annual wage to decrease by £356,000 to leave the Spanish defender earning £7.1m a season.

In a further sign that De Gea's move to Madrid is moving closer, the United goalkeeper's six-bedroom house in Altrincham was listed for sale on Thurday, at £2.75m.

The Independent



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Liverpool close in on Clyne

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Liverpool expect to add Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne to their list of new signings, after agreeing a £12.5m deal.

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London - Liverpool expect to add Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne to their list of new signings next week, after agreeing a £12.5m deal for the Southampton right-back.

The 24-year-old is on holiday in the United States and not expected immediately in Liverpool, but he is set to become the club's sixth signing of the summer, with a medical to undergo at Anfield and personal terms to finalise.

It is thought that £2m of the fee agreed with Brendan Rodgers' club - which is less than the anticipated £15m - will be contingent on appearances.

The Liverpool chief executive, Ian Ayre, was on his way back from Chile on Thursday, after a successful three-day trip in which he signed Brazil forward Roberto Firmino. With a third, potentially decisive, bid from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling expected next week, the pursuit of further goalscoring reinforcements will continue.

Despite the presence of £20m Colombian Carlos Bacca and Zenit Saint Petersburg's Venezuelan Salomon Rondon at the Copa America in Chile, there are not thought to have been any developments on that front. Liverpool are waiting to see if Aston Villa capitulate on the hard line they are taking on Christian Benteke's £32.5m release clause.

The Independent



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Guerrero eases Peru into Copa semis

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Peru striker Paolo Guerrero scored a hat-trick to give his side a comfortable victory over Bolivia at the Copa America.

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Chile - Peru striker Paolo Guerrero scored a hat-trick to give his side a comfortable 3-1 victory over Bolivia at the Copa America on Thursday, setting up a last-four showdown with hosts Chile.

Guerrero scored twice in three minutes midway through the first half to put the Peruvians in the driving seat in their quarter-final clash in the southern Chilean city of Temuco.

His first was a header from a Juan Vargas cross, his second came on the counter-attack after a corner, and his third arrived in the 74th minute when Bolivian midfielder Danny Bejarano gifted him the ball with a misplaced pass and left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Marcelo Moreno scored a late consolation from the penalty spot after Damian Lizio had been tripped in the box but Peru were never in danger of losing and will face Chile in Santiago on Monday in the first of the Copa semi-finals.

“We're getting better and better,” said Guerrero, who is closing in on Teofilo Cubillas' all-time scoring record for Peru.

“Not many people had much confidence in us before this tournament but once again we're showing that we're a good side.”

Peru, who also reached the semi-finals of the 2011 Copa America, dominated from the outset and could have been out of sight by the break.

After Guerrero's early double, his striking partner Jefferson Farfan grazed a post with a low shot and then rattled the crossbar with a curling free kick.

Bolivia's best chance came from a Moreno header which Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese did well to parry.

The Bolivians rallied slightly in the second half and had a good appeal for a penalty turned down after Gallese appeared to bring down midfielder Pablo Escobar as he headed goalwards.

There was no way back for Bolivia after Guerrero completed his treble, however.

Reuters



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Dempsey gets two-year ban in US

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Seattle Sounders striker Clint Dempsey was banned from the US Open Cup after he ripped up a referee's notebook.

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Los Angeles - Seattle Sounders striker Clint Dempsey has been banned from the U.S Open Cup for at least two years after an incident in which he was sent off for ripping up a referee's notebook.

United States international Dempsey has already been suspended for three games by Major League Soccer (MLS) after the incident in which he was given a red card.

The United States Soccer Federation said in a statement that Dempsey had been banned for “a total of six US Open Cup matches or the next two years of US Open Cup competition, whichever is greater. In addition, Dempsey has been fined an undisclosed amount.”

The former Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur forward has waived his right to appeal the decision which related to the US Open Cup match between Seattle and the Portland Timbers on June 16.

Dempsey lost his cool after the Sounders' Michael Azira was sent off, leaving Seattle with eight players.

He took referee Daniel Radford's notebook and threw it to the ground, earning a yellow card for dissent. Dempsey then tore up the notbeook, drawing a straight red card for abuse.

Since MLS clubs enter the US Open Cup in the later rounds, Dempsey could miss more than two years of the competition.

“Due to the suspension, Dempsey cannot play in any US Open Cup matches in 2016 or 2017, and possibly longer depending on the number of tournament games in which Dempsey's team participates in those years,” said the statement.

The Sounders have appeared in five of the last six US Open Cup finals, winning four.

Reuters



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